All parts of the meal take some planning

To the editor,
I admit I am not much of a cook, but I do know you have to plan a meal before you can cook it or eat it. Thumbs down to the editor of The Daily Journal who criticizes the city of International Falls for seeking planning assistance with the Irvin N. Anderson Amphitheatre as part of the larger riverfront development. Under an Aug. 6 headline “First Work on Foundation” our beloved editor gives us the following culinary analogy “the gravy is being ladled before the meat and potatoes are even cooked.”
As the editor goes on to state “the amphitheater is to be part of a larger plan for the city property that would include a headquarters for Voyageurs National Park, a voyageurs heritage center, and a park-like area that would feature a marina, boat launch, walking and biking trails and picnic areas.” The Daily Journal lauds the riverfront development, including the Irvin N. Anderson Amphitheatre, stating “an amphitheater on the waterfront of Rainy River would be welcome and valuable at some point.” Never-the-less, our editor forgets that the cook must plan the entire meal before you cook it.
The action our editor is criticizing is the city council’s decision to hire professionals to help with the planning of the amphitheatre. Our council understands that planning any project of this scope requires more expertise than they collectively possess. They took my advice as city administrator and authorized me to sign up some talented and experienced professionals; I don’t know how they cook but I do know that they will help us create a plan for the Irvin N. Anderson Amphitheatre, as an integral part of the overall Riverfront Development, of which we can all be very proud. Meat, potatoes, cranberry sauce, pickled herring and much more, that’s what I’m planning for my Thanksgiving feast and yes, I will be ladling on the gravy because I know that for a good meal you have to plan all of it, including the gravy, well ahead of time.
Rodney Otterness,
City Administrator,
International Falls, MN